Identify theft is a problem in our world. According to the Consumer Sentinal Network, more than 273,000 consumers filed identity theft complaints in 2009. Another 721,000 filed fraud charges that included credit card fraud, benefits fraud, bank and loan fraud and employment fraud. According to the Federal Trade Commission, you can take steps to protect yourself. One way to protect your identity is to shred certain documents before they go into your trash.
Employment Documents
Shred pay stubs you don't keep. This includes pay stubs from an old job you no longer need to keep for IRS purposes. Shred any other documentation you receive from your employer that contains identifying information.
Social Security Statements
The Social Security Administration sends out an annual benefits report with your name and the amount you might expect to receive each month once you retire. If you don't keep this document, shred it.
Charge Card Receipts and Bills
Charge card receipts may contain your credit card information. The information on the receipt may help a thief gain access to your credit card number. Shred the receipt even if the card number is incomplete.
Bills from utility companies, credit companies and other sources may also compromise your identity or allow someone to access your account.
Healthcare Documents
Documents from your health care practitioner may contain enough information to identify you and reveal information you would like to keep private. Your name, the treatment you received, the diagnosis that determined your treatment, your insurance information and more may be included on the documents. Shredding the documents not only protects you from identity fraud, it may protect others from gaining access to information about your health.
Insurance Documents
Insurance forms may reveal your private medical information. Your old medical insurance card may provide someone with information that could allow them to charge their health care to your account. Many consumers get new insurance cards each year or when their insurance changes at work. Shred the old cards and insurance forms you no long need. Car insurance forms may include enough information to allow someone to fraudulently access your information. You may want to keep your car insurance card in your wallet or purse, rather than in the car. When the new cards are issued, shred the old ones.
Banking Documents
Bank statements and canceled checks include account information, name, address and phone. This information could allow someone to access your account and remove funds. It might also supply them enough information to apply for credit using your name and financial information.
Credit Documentation
Even if the card is no longer valid, shred it or cut it up to prevent someone from attempting to use it fraudulently. If you apply for credit, properly dispose of the application by shredding it. Shred credit card invitations even if you don't fill them out. Many of these come prescreened with preprinted information on them and could be used to obtain credit through fraud. You can opt out of prescreened credit applications by calling 1-888-567-8688.
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